Games based learning, coding & esports. How many in education are probably fed up with the latest fad – looking at the primary teachers here mainly. Who let’s face it have a tough job as is.  But you’re not a primary teacher I hear folk say so why do you care in the least. Well, you are right I’m not, but I am a lecturer in college I’ve also had a lot of experience in projects working with primary schools which is where my experience comes in.  So why am I talking about this because I think some things need said however please take into account these are purely my own thoughts. Last week saw Brian Baglow of Scottish Games Network kick of his workshop roadshow for the Scottish Games Strategy and something that I want to be clear from the start is that its needed and education is vital BUT its not something we can start doing from primary – well not in the every kids got to be a gamer and make games yada yada.  We need to learn and trying to include things like GBL/coding/esports just is not feasible at primary level (as a must in the education system – extracurricular is fine).

I think that first and foremost literacy and numeracy are the number one skill followed by digital literacy (without the 2 former this one becomes hard). I’m not against things like GBL/coding/esports but at the same time not all schools are equal, not all local authorities are equal and therefore educationally children across the country have different experiences. There is still great disparity in computing education within Scotland, which is why asking for a N5 computing as an entry requirement could be an issue as not all schools deliver (this is just an example). 

But wait you have a PhD, and it was about teaching children to make games an dhow to code. Yes, I do but since then I’ve now spent a lot more time working in college and get to see our students who come from school with varying digital skills. It’s made me think that the whole needing to be able to use a pc and the packages makes far more sense first then yeah coding etc.  However, things like iPad programs do kind of hinder this a bit as well. Sorry but they might be able to navigate their way round apps but even the basics of using a pc (file management I’m looking at you) can be a nightmare.

All young people should be leaving secondary school with the same level of digital literacy (regardless of any who take a computing related subject) there needs to be a baseline for sure. I also get the fascination for games whether its for GBL or esports(err I teach it ) but again disparity across the country and access to the infrastructure – that goes for digital literacy I guess as well. However, I feel that by using these the basics are being forgotten. Before anyone uses the term Digital natives – no, no and NO. Just because you were brought up in the digital world, does not mean you are proficient in using the technology – I know the babies can get their apps – that is mimicry though. Theres the good old well they are so good on their phones yeah, they can Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram but that’s not any use when you are on a course that requires computing use. They may be social media literate but not digitally literate and that’s something we need to be aware of.

Once children have those skills then it will help them be able to transfer the knowledge to whatever it is that interests them.